Smog alert amid bank holiday heatwave

The warm and still weather brought on by the current high pressure system over the UK is expected to boost levels of polluting particles known as PM10.

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has urged people to avoid making unnecessary short car journeys and to avoid exercising outdoors.

Those particularly sensitive to air conditions, such as asthmatics, may notice an effect on their breathing, Defra warned.

It also advised those suffering from heart conditions to seek medical advice if they notice a change in their symptoms over the weekend.

Weather

The warm weather is set to continue over the Easter weekend, with temperatures in London and south-east England likely to hit highs of 27C on Saturday.

With the late Easter and the extra bank holiday for the Royal Wedding, millions of workers have been able to take just three days off work in return for an 11 day “double bank holiday” getaway.

Around two million people flocked abroad yesterday, yet those heading to Europe are unlikely to enjoy the heatwave England expects.

Malaga in southern Spain and the Greek Island of Corfu are only likely to reach around 17C (63F) today and Barcelona only getting up to 16C (61F).

Weather forecasters said there was a risk of one or two showers in the UK today but most places should remain dry and fine.

Gemma Plumb, forecaster with MeteoGroup, added:”Temperatures should be between 20C (68F) and 24C (75F), perhaps 25C (77F) in the south-east, but it will be cooler in the east of England and Scotland again.”

She said the weather was likely to be much the same on Saturday and Sunday, with a risk of showers once again in the west of Scotland and eastern areas of England.

Traffic

Meanwhile, those staying in the UK have been told to expect heavy traffic, with the AA has warning “the worst is probably yet to come”.

Among jammed-up routes were the A38 near Derby, the A2 in Kent, the A27 near Chichester in West Sussex, the A1 (M) near Durham and on several places on the M25.

However there was some good news for motorists as the fire-hit section of the M1 between junctions one and four just north of London fully reopened.

The Highways Agency also suspended roadworks at a number of sites on England’s motorways and major roads, but restrictions are still in place at some sites, including some on the M1 and M25.

The RAC said drivers taking to the roads this Easter were paying, on average, 16 per cent more for petrol and 20 per cent more for diesel than a year ago.

Average petrol prices at the pumps at the moment are 135.2p, with diesel averaging 141.69p.

The Association of Train Operating Companies said 1.8 million train journeys were expect to take place today, with two million on Easter Saturday, 900,000 on Easter Sunday and 1.5 million on Easter Monday.

An estimated 3.5 million train commuters used the network yesterday.

Network Rail said there would be some engineering work on the railways over Easter but that 18 per cent more trains were running this holiday compared with last Easter.

Disrupted services due to engineering include those using the West Coast line in north west England, services in and out of London’s Liverpool Street station and trains on the Great Western line.

Royal Wedding effect

Flight bookings heading out of the UK in the two days before Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding have soared 104 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to reports from Visa Europe. In-bound trips to the UK have increased 244 per cent.

British Airways said it would be flying more than 250,000 people into London next week ahead of the royal wedding. Americans are proving to be the keenest to come to join in wedding celebrations, with BA’s top six busiest routes into London being New York, Boston, Washington, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco.

The company said it had already processed more than 26,000 flight bookings for Britons planning to fly on April 27 and 28, with the most popular destinations being Amsterdam, Malaga, Dublin and the Spanish area of Alicante.

Special report: Royal Wedding

VisitEngland said that 26 per cent of UK adults were planning to take a trip involving at least one overnight stay in the UK over the double bank holiday period.

Travel company Tui, the parent of holiday firms Thomson and First Choice, said its Easter sales were 22 per cent up on last year, while budget airline Ryanair reported its Easter bookings were 10 per cent up on last year. Its top destinations were the Canary Islands, Greece, France, Portugal and Spain.

Easter Monday is expected to be the busiest day for coach travel according National Express.

On the day of the royal wedding, the company is providing London-bound coaches from 67 towns and cities, with Southampton, Stansted Airport in Essex, and Bournemouth the most-popular starting points for journeys.